Michigan State Spartans vs Minnesota Golden Gophers Match Player Stats On Feb 06, 2024

Cam Christie scored 19 points and shot 5-for-7 from beyond the arc as Minnesota held on for a 59-56 win over Michigan State in a Big Ten Conference matchup Tuesday night in Minneapolis.

Dawson Garcia added 10 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:27 to go, to lift Minnesota (15-7, 6-5 Big Ten) to its third straight victory. Pharrel Payne and Parker Fox finished with eight points apiece.

Tyson Walker scored 20 points to lead Michigan State (14-9, 6-6). Jaden Akins finished with 16 points on 6-for-11 shooting, including 4-for-7 from beyond the arc.

Minnesota outscored Michigan State 32-24 in the second half to rally for the victory.

The score was tied at 52-52 inside of two minutes. Garcia broke the tie when he took a pass from Elijah Hawkins and buried a long shot from the left wing to make it 55-52.

A.J. Hoggard made two free throws for Michigan State to cut the deficit to 55-54 with 20 seconds left.

Christie increased the Golden Gophers' lead to 57-54 with two free throws with 18 seconds left, and Hawkins made it 59-54 with two more free throws with six seconds left.

Walker finished the scoring with a jump shot with one second to go.

The Spartans led by nine points with 13:16 remaining. Tre Holloman made a jump shot off an assist from Akins to make it 45-36.

Minnesota responded with a 10-0 run to regain a 46-45 advantage with 7:56 remaining. Payne made a free throw to finish the run and set up a back-and-forth finish.

Michigan State led 32-27 at halftime.

The Golden Gophers jumped to a 20-13 lead in the first 10 minutes. The score was even at 12-12 when Fox made a layup to start an 8-1 run for Minnesota.

The Spartans responded by closing the half on a 19-7 run, which transformed a seven-point deficit into a five-point advantage. Walker scored the first five points of the run with a 3-pointer and a jump shot.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins watched the game from behind the Spartans' bench. Cousins, who played collegiately at Michigan State, smiled when the Golden Gophers mascot delivered him a Minnesota jersey as the student section cheered.

--Field Level Media